Card of the Week: 2010 Topps Sterling Stan Musial Mystery Pack Gold #2/5

Since I would never buy a box of the colossal money bonfire that is Topps Sterling (if you like 10% ROI this is your set) I had to turn to eBay to pick up this slick looking card of one of my favorite players. The gold parallel looks great in person and is about as thick as most standard jersey cards. I scored a bit of a deal because the card was listed in the football rather than the baseball card section, and while I'm sure Stan the Man was talented enough to play any sport, he definitely played for the Cardinals and not the Rams. Very happy to add this card to my collection and I will certainly look to add some more Sterling to my collection. Thanks for looking!

Another Great Pacific Northwest Trade

If you haven't made a trade with Kerry from Cards on Cards yet--what are you waiting for? My neighbor to the south has provided me with many of my favorite Mariners and Griffey cards, and this trade package was no exception. This is what he sent in the latest installment:

2009 UD Spectrum Rick Ankiel: Yes I know there aren't that many UD Spectrum fans out there, but I'm a sucker for anything shiny. It's nice to see Ankiel get the chance to play for a contender in Atlanta--if he could top off his amazing transition with a World Series it would truly be story book quality.

1992 Arena Holograms Ken Griffey Jr.: Kerry sent me two of these, one opened and another unopened in the original pack. I'm not quite sure what ever happened to Arena Holograms, but anyone who makes Griffey cards is okay in my book.

2010 Topps Chicle Stan Musial: For the most part, Topps Chicle was an utter abomination--an affront to the beautiful world God created. But, a few cards did turn out well. This is one of them.

1997 Fleer Ultra Ken Griffey Jr.: The baseball card world is a lesser place without Fleer Ultra just as baseball is a lesser sport without Ken Griffey Jr. This card may make me cry.

2002 Upper Deck Game Swatches Edgar Martinez: It seems like Kerry is a magnet to Edgar jersey cards, because I think this is around the 3rd or 4th he's sent me (not that there's anything wrong with that). I wish I was a magnet to Albert Pujols or Matt Holliday cards so I could return the favor.


Thanks for the great cards Kerry! Good luck Ducks!

Card of the Week: 2002 Donruss Rookie Year Materials Jersey Stan Musial #12/50

Stan Musial has always been my favorite "old-time" player (there's a great read on him in the newest Sports Illustrated) and I jumped at the chance to pick up this incredible card of one of the game's all-time (and criminally underrated) greats.

Not only is it the first Stan Musial jersey card in my collection, but the swatch is from Musial's rookie year of 1942. That's right, that little woolen square of fabric is over 68 years old! If it's possible, this card gets even cooler because Donruss showed a picture of the actual jersey from which the swatch was taken on the back. Why can't Topps do that?

Cardinals' fans can drool all they want, but this card is staying in my personal collection for a very long time. Did I mention that I got it for less than the price of a blaster? Hazaa!

A Few Goodies from the Local Card Shop

I didn't realize until recently that there was a card shop around where I lived, although it doesn't carry any wax, just singles and supplies. Still, it was nice to browse through some cards that weren't mine (I've seen them a few thousand times) and I found some nice cards in a 25 cent box. I'll probably head back there sometime again to find cards for trades (haven't done that in a while). Here's what I got yesterday for a quarter a pop:

2008 Topps Heritage Stan Musial Flashbacks: I'm not a Cardinals fan but I've always felt myself drawn to Stan "the Man" Musial. Someday I like to get an autograph of him; you know, when I have money and all.

2006 Upper Deck Special FX Albert Pujols Player Highlights: Not even a Cubs' fan could say no to a shiny Pujols for a quarter. Come to think of it, shiny Pujols sounds kind of dirty--I'll try to avoid that word combination moving forward.

2006 Fleer Josh Johnson RC: Josh Johnson was the anchor of my fantasy team's pitching staff last year and thus gained a special place in my heart. The kid's got a bright future.

2006 Topps Chrome Ben Zobrist RC #173/599: I thought this was just a base chrome rookie of Zorilla but when I flipped it over I saw the serial number and realized that it must have been one of the box topper rookies. I'll never complain about paying a quarter for a nice rookie of my favorite Ray, even though he's not quite playing like himself yet. But hey, it could be worse. He could be playing for the Mariners...

Well, nothing too exciting but I think I picked up some nice cards for the price of a gumball. It's nice to know someone else likes baseball cards where I live; I feel so alone sometimes. Thanks for looking and have a stellar weekend!

This One's For (From) the Birds: A Trade with Kerry from Cards on Cards

My Pacific Northwest trading partner, Kerry from Cards on Cards, sent a great package of Griffeys, Mariners, Rick Ankiels and Stan Musials my way recently. The weather has been fantastic here lately after a few weeks of grey skies and these cards made my good mood even better. Spring Training just has a way of making things right in the world. Here are a sampling of the cards I received:

1991 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr/Barry Bonds: This card has it all; garish yellow borders, a small-headed Barry Bonds, a stadium I don't recognize (Wrigley Field?) and of course, Ken Griffey Jr. It sure is strange how differently their careers turned out.

1990 Topps Toys "R" Us Ken Griffey Jr: Believe it or not I never once visited a Toys "R" Us during my childhood. This card helps ease the pain, at least a little.

2000 Fleer Tradition Rick Ankiel Who To Watch: Since the time he was a young pitcher Rick Ankiel has always been one of my favorite players. I believed he was too talented to be out of baseball after acquiring Steve Blass Disease (or Chuck Knoblauch Syndrome) and sure enough he fought his way back to the majors as a hitter. A truly incredible player...I hope he has a strong season with the Royals.

2007-08 Fleer Kevin Durant RC: This card is a bittersweet reminder of the one year that Kevin Durant spent in Seattle as a Supersonic. I had the privilege of watching him play in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman at Texas, and though I could tell he was talented, I didn't think he would be ticketed for NBA stardom so quickly. He also owns the best current nickname in sports---"The Durantula". Please come back to Seattle, please!

2004 Topps Edgar Martinez All-Star Jersey: I like All-Star jerseys because they are at least somewhat limited (600-700 swatches?) and are tied to a specific event. I always give the Edgars I get in trades to one of my twin brothers and he is really starting to accumulate a nice collection of Gars. Martinez looks like he just smelled a fart in the photo.

Thanks Kerry! As always, any Cardinals I pull are headed your way. Good luck to the Blazers!